VPK starts up rebuilt paper machine in Belgium

VPK Paper, a division of Belgium-based VPK Packaging, has successfully started up its rebuilt paper machine at its paper mill in Oudegem Belgium. The comprehensive rebuild was supplied by the equipment company Valmet.  has successfully started up its rebuilt paper machine after a comprehensive rebuild supplied by Valmet. The rebuild will increase the mill’s production capacity from about 185,000 metric tons per year to around 200,000 metric tons per year of high quality packaging grades.

The rebuild included work on the paper machines’ forming, drying and reeling sections.

The target of this rebuild was to improve machine speed, safety and efficiency. Valmet delivery for the forming section included among others mist eliminators, vacuum foil boxes and top wire lengthening with additional drive.

In spring 2015, Valmet successfully installed a new Quality Control System (QCS) at the VPK mill. "We have achieved high availability and remarkably increased production with automatic grade change, improved process monitoring and faster paper specifications after web break. Working together with Valmet in these two projects has truly moved our performance forward," says Alexis Zenner, business unit manager at VPK’s Oudegem mill.

VPK Paper consumes around 500,000 metric tons of recovered fibre and old corrugated to make new products. The company operates more than 35 plants in 13 countries.